Energy storage system with elevator lift system

ABSTRACT

An energy storage and delivery system includes an elevator operable to move blocks from a lower elevation to a higher elevation to store energy and from a higher elevation to a lower elevation to generate electricity. A winch assembly is movably coupled to a cable that is coupled to the elevator. The winch assembly has planetary gear assemblies, brakes that selectively engage at least a portion of the planetary gear assemblies, and a spool coupled to the cable. A drive shaft extends between a motor-generator and the winch assembly. A brake is operable so that the spool rotates to reel-in the cable to raise the elevator to move a block from a lower elevation to a higher elevation to store energy or so that the spool rotates to reel-out the cable to lower the elevator to move a block from a higher elevation to a lower elevation to generate electricity.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO ANY PRIORITY APPLICATIONS

Any and all applications for which a foreign or domestic priority claimis identified in the Application Data Sheet as filed with the presentapplication are hereby incorporated by reference under 37 CFR 1.57.

BACKGROUND Field

The invention is directed to an energy storage and delivery system, andmore particularly to an energy storage and delivery system that storesand releases energy via the vertical movement of blocks or bricks.

Description of the Related Art

Power generation from renewable energy sources (e.g., solar power, windpower, hydroelectric power, biomass, etc.) continues to grow. However,many of these renewable energy sources (e.g., solar power, wind power)are intermittent an unpredictable, limiting the amount of electricitythat can be delivered to the grid from intermittent renewable energysources.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, there is a need for improved system to capture electricitygenerated by renewable energy sources for predictable delivery to theelectrical grid. As used herein, the electrical grid is aninterconnected network for delivery of electricity from producers toconsumers and spans a large geographical region, including cities,states and/or countries.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the energy storageand delivery system can in one example store solar power to produceoff-hours electricity. The energy storage and delivery system can move aplurality of blocks from a lower elevation to a higher elevation tostore solar energy as potential energy in the blocks during daylighthours when solar electricity is abundant. The energy storage system canthen operate to move the blocks from the higher elevation to a lowerelevation during nighttime to drive a generator to produce electricityfor delivery to the power grid. In one implementation, the energystorage system can use a winch having one or more planetary gearassemblies and one or more brakes that advantageously allow forsimplified control of the system to raise and lower blocks.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure a method for storingand generating electricity is provided. The method comprises operatingan elevator on a tower to move a plurality of blocks from a lowerelevation on the tower to a higher elevation on the tower to storeenergy in the blocks, each of the blocks storing an amount of energycorresponding to a potential energy amount of the block. The method alsocomprises operating the elevator to move the blocks from a higherelevation on the tower to a lower elevation on the tower (e.g., under aforce of gravity), thereby generating an amount of electricitycorresponding to a kinetic energy amount of said one or more blocks whenmoved from the higher elevation to the lower elevation.

In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, an energy storage anddelivery system is provided. The energy storage and delivery systemcomprises one or more modules. Each module comprises a plurality ofblocks and a frame having a vertical height above a foundation. Theframe includes a lower deck, an upper deck spaced vertically above thelower deck, an elevator shaft disposed between a left column and a rightcolumn of the frame that extend between the lower deck and the upperdeck, and an elevator movably disposed in the elevator shaft andoperatively coupled to an electric motor-generator. The elevator issized to receive and support one or more blocks therein and operable totravel between a location above the lower deck and a location above theupper deck. The elevator is operable to raise one or more blocks from alocation in the left column above the lower deck to a location above theupper deck over the left column, and to move one or more blocks from alocation in the right column above the lower deck to a location abovethe upper deck over the right column to thereby store an amount ofelectrical energy corresponding to a potential energy amount of said oneor more raised blocks. The elevator is operable to lower one or moreblocks from a location above the upper deck over the left column to alocation within the left column above the lower deck, and to move one ormore blocks from a location above the upper deck over the right columnto a location within the right column above the lower deck under a forceof gravity to thereby generate an amount of electricity for each of theone or more lowered blocks via the electric motor-generator electricallycoupled to the elevator.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a method forstoring and generating electricity is provided. The method comprisesoperating an elevator along an elevator shaft between adjacent left andright columns to move a plurality of blocks between a location above alower deck in the left or right columns to a location above an upperdeck aligned with the left or right columns. Operating the elevatorincludes one or both of (a) lifting a block from the location above thelower deck in the left or right column, moving the block into theelevator shaft, raising the block to a location above the upper deck,moving the block out of the elevator shaft, and releasing the block tothat it is aligned over its prior location in the left or right columnto thereby store and amount of electrical energy corresponding to apotential energy amount of said block, and (b) lifting a block from thelocation above the upper deck and over the left or right column, movingthe block into the elevator shaft, lowering the block to a locationabove the lower deck under a force of gravity, moving the block out ofthe elevator shaft, and releasing the block to that it is aligned belowits prior location and within the left or right column to therebygenerate an amount of electricity via an electric motor-generatorelectrically coupled to the elevator.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a block for use inan energy storage and generation system is provided. The block comprisesa body made of one or more of concrete, steel and compacted dirt. Thebody has a rectangular shape with a planar top surface and a bottomsurface having two or more protrusions that extend across a width of thebody. A recess is defined between the two or more protrusions, the twoor more protrusions and the recess extending across a width of the body.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, an energy storageand delivery system is provided. The system comprises one or moremodules. Each module comprises a plurality of blocks and a frame havinga vertical height above a foundation. The frame includes an elevatorshaft, and an elevator movably disposed in the elevator shaft, theelevator sized to receive and support one or more blocks therein andoperable to move one or more of the plurality of blocks between a lowerelevation and a higher elevation. A winch assembly is movably coupled toa cable that is coupled to the elevator, the winch assembly comprisingone or more planetary gear assemblies, one or more brakes and a spoolcoupled to the cable. The one or more modules also comprises amotor-generator and a drive shaft having an end coupled to themotor-generator and an opposite end coupled to the winch assembly. Atleast one of the one or more brakes of the winch assembly is operable sothat the spool rotates to reel-in the cable to raise the elevator tomove one or more of the plurality of blocks from a lower elevation to ahigher elevation to store energy or so that the spool rotates toreel-out the cable to lower the elevator to move one or more of theplurality of blocks from a higher elevation to a lower elevation togenerate electricity.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a method forstoring and generating electricity is provided. The method comprisesoperating an elevator along an elevator shaft to move a plurality ofblocks between a lower elevation and a higher elevation, the elevatorcoupled to a cable that extends between the elevator and a spool of awinch assembly, the winch assembly comprising one or more planetary gearassemblies and one or more brakes. Operating the elevator includesoperating a first brake of the winch assembly to disengage a brake discof the winch assembly, operating a second brake of the winch assembly todisengage a first ring gear of a first planetary gear assembly andoperating a third brake of the winch assembly to engage a second ringgear of a second planetary gear assembly to stop rotation of the spool.Operating the elevator also includes operating the first brake to engagethe brake disc of the winch assembly, operating the second brake todisengage the first ring gear of the first planetary gear assembly andoperating the third brake to disengage the second ring gear of thesecond planetary gear assembly to rotate the spool in a reversedirection to reel-out the cable to lower the elevator. Operating theelevator also includes operating the first brake to disengage the brakedisc of the winch assembly, operating the second brake to engage thefirst ring gear of the first planetary gear assembly and operating thethird brake to disengage the second ring gear of the second planetarygear assembly to rotate the spool in a forward direction to reel-in thecable to raise the elevator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example and notlimitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an energy storage system, inaccordance with a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of an energy storage system, inaccordance with a second embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of an energy storage system, inaccordance with a third embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of an energy storage system, inaccordance with the third embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an energy storage system, in accordancewith the third embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an energy storage system, in accordancewith the third embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a block, in accordance with oneembodiment;

FIG. 8A-8D is a diagrammatic illustration of a block being moved onto anelevator, in accordance with one embodiment;

FIGS. 9A-9B are perspective views of a rotary energy storage system, inaccordance with a fourth embodiment;

FIGS. 10A-10B are side views of a rotary energy storage system, inaccordance with the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a top view of a rotary energy storage system, in accordancewith the fourth embodiment;

FIGS. 12A-12B are perspective views of a rotary energy storage system,in accordance with the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a perspective views of a rotary energy storage system, inaccordance with a fifth embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic illustration of a motor-generator coupled to aplurality of energy storage systems;

FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic illustration of a winch; and

FIG. 16 includes a table indicating winch performance based on brakeactivation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Disclosed herein is an energy storage system that can be operativelycoupled to a large-scale electrical grid for stabilizing the electricgrid and producing electricity for residential, commercial, andindustrial consumers. The energy storage system draws electricity fromthe grid when supply is readily available, and inputs electricity backinto the grid when demand is high. The energy storage system may also beoperatively coupled to a solar power plant for purposes of storingelectricity during daylight hours and outputting electricity to the gridduring nighttime hours. The energy storage system can additionally oralternatively be operatively coupled to a wind power plant or otherrenewable energy generating plant.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of one implementation of an energy storage(ES) system 100. The ES system 100 includes a frame 110. In oneimplementation, the frame 110 can include a plurality of reinforcedsteel/concrete pillars, a plurality of cross members (not shown), alower deck 112, an upper deck 114, at least one elevator 120 thattravels in an elevator shaft 122, a motor-generator 150, and a pluralityof ballast weights or blocks 130. The blocks 130 are stacked and storedon the lower deck 112 and upper deck 114 (e.g., within a column 111 a tothe right and a column 111 b to the right of the elevator shaft 122).The elevator 120 can be operated to move the blocks 130 between a stackon the lower deck 112 and a stack on the upper deck 114 via the elevatorshaft 122. The frame 110, blocks 130, elevator shaft 122 and elevator120 form a module. In the illustrated implementation, the ES system 100has one module.

To store electricity or other form of energy, a block 130 is lifted bythe elevator 120 from the lower deck 112 to the upper deck 114. Torelease energy and generate electricity, a block 130 is lowered from theupper deck 114 to the lower deck 112 (e.g., under force of gravity) bythe elevator 120 (e.g., at a velocity of approximately 0.4 meter/second)and the force used to rotate the motor-generator 150 to generateelectricity (e.g., based on the kinetic energy of the block 130 as it islowered).

In one implementation, some blocks are confined to the upper deck 114and lower deck 112 to the left of the elevator 120, while other locksare confined to the upper deck 114 and lower deck 112 to the right ofthe elevator 120. To the right, for example as shown in FIG. 1, thereare a total of eight blocks including blocks 1-6 on the upper deck 114,block 7 being moved by the elevator 120 upward to be stacked on block 6on the right side, and block 8 on the lower deck 112. To storeadditional energy, block 8 to the right may be raised and stacked onblock 7 on the right side. Alternatively, to generate electricity, block7 to the right may be lowered and stacked on top of block 8 to theright. The process may be repeated as long as there are blocks availableto convert energy as required. Advantageously, the same elevator 120 canmove blocks 130 on the right side of the elevator shaft 122 between thelower deck 112 and the upper deck 114, and can move blocks 130 on theleft side of the elevator shaft 122 between the lower deck 112 and theupper deck 114. Blocks 130 on the left side of the elevator 120 aremoved between the lower deck 112 on the left side of the elevator shaft122 and the upper deck 114 on the left side of the elevator shaft 122,and blocks 130 on the right side of the elevator 120 are moved betweenthe lower deck 112 on the right side of the elevator shaft 122 and theupper deck 114 on the right side of the elevator shaft 122.

Because each block 130 travels between a location at (or above) thelower deck 112 and a location at (or above) upper deck 114 so that theblock 130 remains on the same side (e.g., to the left or right of theelevator shaft 122), each of the blocks 130 of the ES system 100 has adifferent vertical travel distance between the location above the lowerdeck 112 and the location about the upper deck 114. For example, whenall the blocks 130 are on the lower deck 112, the top block 330 in thestack travels a shorter distance to the location above the upper deck114 than the bottom block 130 in the stack, which must travel from the alocation adjacent the bottom deck 112, past the location of the upperdeck 114 to a top of the stack on the upper deck 114. Accordingly, eachblock 130 of the ES system 100 stores a different amount of energy whenmoved from the above the lower deck 112 to above the upper deck 114(e.g., the top block 330 in the stack stores the least energy and thebottom block in the stack stores the most energy) and generates adifferent amount of electricity when moved from above the upper deck 114to above the lower deck 112 (e.g., the top block 330 in the stackgenerates the most electricity and the bottom block 130 in the stackgenerates the least electricity). In one implementation, the elevator120 can alternatively one block on the left side of the elevator shaft122 between a position over the lower deck 112 and a position over theupper deck 114, and move one block on the right side of the elevatorshaft 122 between a position over the lower deck 112 and a position overthe upper deck 114, which can maintain the load on the lower deck 112and upper deck 114 generally even between the left and right sides ofthe elevator shaft 122, which can reduce a stress differential on theframe 110.

In one implementation, each block 130 can be approximately 6 meterslong, 6 meters wide, and 4 meters tall. However, the block 130 can haveother suitable dimensions. The block 130 may be made of concrete, steel,and/or compacted dirt, for example. In one example, the total weight ofa block 130 is between about 200 tons and about 300 tons (e.g., metricton), such as approximately 288 tons (e.g., eight blocks 130 can have atotal weight of between about 1600 tons and about 2400 tons, such asabout 2304 tons). The height (h) of the upper deck 114 can in oneimplementation be approximately 88.5 meters, and the overall height (H)of the elevator shaft 122 can in one implementation be approximately120.5 meters. However, the height (h) of the upper deck 114 and height(H) of the elevator shaft 122 can have other suitable values. The amountof energy storage of the ES system 100 can in one implementation beapproximately 500 kWh (kilowatt hours). The amount of power generationprovided by the ES system 100 can in one implementation be approximately1.1 MW. In one implementation, the blocks 130 may weigh as much as 150metric tons.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a second implementation of an energystorage (ES) system 100A. The ES system 100A is similar to the ES system100 illustrated in FIG. 1 and described above. Therefore, the structureand description for the various features of the ES system 100 in FIG. 1,and the blocks 130 moved by the ES system 100, are understood to alsoapply to the corresponding features of the ES system 100A in FIG. 2,except as described below. The ES system 100A differs from the ES system100 in that it includes two elevators 120 instead of one. Each of thetwo elevators 120 moves along its corresponding elevator shaft 122 ofthe frame 210 and services a stack of blocks 130 to its immediate leftand immediate right (e.g., blocks are within a column 111 a to the rightand a column 111 b to the right of the elevator shaft 122). The frame210 can have a width W. In one implementation, the width W can bebetween about 20 meters and about 40 meters, such as about 36 meters.The blocks 130 (on the immediate left and immediate right of eachelevator 120) can be moved between the lower deck 112 and upper deck114. The ES system 100A operates in the same manner as the ES system100, but the two elevators 120 of the ES system 100A allow the ES system100A to store twice as much energy as the ES system 100 and to generatedtwice as much power (e.g. electricity) on demand as the ES system 100.The frame 110, blocks 130, elevator shafts 122 and elevators 120 form amodule. In the illustrated implementation, the ES system 100A has onemodule.

FIGS. 3-6 illustrate a third implementation of an energy storage (ES)system 100B. The ES system 100B is similar to the ES system 100Aillustrated in FIG. 2 and described above, which is similar to the ESsystem 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 and described above. Therefore, thestructure and description for the various features of the ES system 100Ain FIG. 2, and the blocks 130 moved by the ES system 100A, areunderstood to also apply to the corresponding features of the ES system100C in FIGS. 3-6, except as described below. Like the ES system 100A,the ES system 100B includes a pair of elevators 320 that can each moveblocks 330 in the same manner described above for the ES system 100 and100A (e.g., each elevator 320 can move blocks 330 immediately to theleft or right side of the shaft of the elevator 320 between a lower deck312 and an upper deck 314). For example, the blocks 330 are within acolumn 311 a to the right and a column 311 b to the right of theelevator shaft 322. Unlike the ES system 100A, the ES system 100Bincludes five pairs of elevators standing side by side (e.g., inadjacent elevator shafts in a depth direction or into the page in FIG.3, or as shown in FIG. 4), thus producing a matrix of elevators 320 thatis two elevators wide across the front (e.g., in the X direction in FIG.3) and five elevators deep (e.g., in the Y direction in FIG. 4).However, the frame 310 can have any suitable number of elevators 320across the front (e.g., in the X direction in FIG. 3) and any suitablenumber of elevators 320 in a depth direction (e.g., in the Y directionin FIG. 4). Each elevator 320 can have a stack of blocks 330 to the leftand to the right of its associated elevator shaft 322. The blocks 330 tothe left and right can be stacked on the lower deck 312 or upper deck314 and moved between the lower deck 312 and the upper deck 314. Theframe 310, blocks 130, elevator shafts 322 and elevators 320 in eachvertical plane form a module. In the illustrated implementation, the ESsystem 100B has five modules.

To store electricity or other form of energy, an elevator 320 descendsan elevator shaft 322 to or near (e.g., above) the lower deck 312, picksup a block 330 (e.g., from a stack of blocks 330 on the left side orright side of the elevator shaft 322), carries the block 330 to (orabove) the upper deck 314, and deposits the block on a stack of blocks330 on the upper deck 314 (e.g., on the left side or right side,respectively, so that the block 330 on the upper deck 314 is on the sameside it was when it was on the lower deck 312, or above its originalposition). To release electricity or other form of energy, an elevator320 ascends an elevator shaft 322 to or near (e.g., above) the upperdeck 314, picks up a block 330 (e.g., from a stack of blocks 330 on theleft side or right side of the elevator shaft 322), carries the block330 to (or above) the lower deck 312, and deposits the block 330 on astack of blocks 330 on the lower deck 312 (e.g., on the left side orright side of the elevator shaft 322, respectively, so that the block330 on the lower deck 312 is on the same side it was when it was on theupper deck 314, or below its earlier position). The ES system 100B, likethe ES system 100A, 100, includes a motor-generator 350 (e.g., similarto the motor-generator 150 in FIGS. 1-2) to lift and lower the blocks330. By moving the blocks 330 between a location at (or above) the lowerdeck 312 and a location at (or above) upper deck 314 so that the block330 remains on the same side (e.g., to the left or right of theassociated elevator shaft 322), the ES system 100B, like the ES system100A, 100, advantageously moves the blocks 330 so that the average loadon the frame 310 (e.g., or foundation under the frame 310) isapproximately constant during operation of the ES system, therebyinhibiting stresses on the system during operation. Additionally,because each block 330 travels between a location at (or above) thelower deck 312 and a location at (or above) upper deck 314 so that theblock 330 remains on the same side (e.g., to the left or right of theassociated elevator shaft 322), each of the blocks 330 of the ES system100B, like those of the ES system 100A, 100, have a different verticaltravel distance between the location above the lower deck 312 and thelocation about the upper deck 314. For example, when all the blocks 330are on the lower deck 312, the top block 330 in the stack travels ashorter distance to the location above the upper deck 314 than thebottom block 330 in the stack, which must travel from the a locationadjacent the bottom deck 312, past the location of the upper deck 314 toa top of the stack on the upper deck 314. Accordingly, each block 330 ofthe ES system 100B (as each block 130 of the ES system 100, 100A) storesa different amount of energy when moved from the above the lower deck312 to above the upper deck 314 and generates a different amount ofelectricity when moved from above the upper deck 314 to above the lowerdeck 312.

FIG. 7 illustrates one implementation of a block 330. In oneimplementation, the block 130 used with the ES system 100, 100A in FIGS.1-2 can be similar (e.g., identical) to the block 330 in FIG. 7. In oneimplementation, the block 330 is rectangular and can optionally have asubstantially smooth finish on an upper surface 330 a (e.g. planar uppersurface), a front side 330 b, a back side 330 c, a left side 330 d and aright side 330 e of the block 330. Advantageously, the smooth surfacecan facilitate movement of a jack (such as the jack 810 describedfurther below) over the upper surface 330 a. The bottom surface 330 f,in contrast, can in one implementation have a corrugated surface withtwo or more protrusions 740 and one or more recesses 742 along thelength L of the block 330 that run the depth D of the block 330 from thefront side 330 b to the back side 330 c. The protrusions 740 extenddownward while the recesses 742 reside above the protrusions 740. Theprotrusions 740 contact the ground, deck (e.g., lower deck 312, upperdeck, 314), other block 330, or other surface on which the block 330 isplaced, and the recesses 742 extend above said surface (e.g., extendapproximately 10 to 30 centimeters above said surface). In one example,the protrusions 740 are 10 to 30 centimeters tall and define openingsthat extend across the depth D of the block 330. In anotherimplementation (shown in FIGS. 3-6), the block 330 has two protrusionson the edges of the block 330 so there is one recess 742 a (see FIG. 5)between the two protrusions that defines a single opening that extendsthe depth of the block 330.

In one implementation, each block 330 can be approximately 6 meterslong, 6 meters wide, and 4 meters tall (e.g. have a volume ofapproximately 144 cubic meters). However, the block 330 can have othersuitable dimensions. The block 330 may be made of concrete, or compacteddirt or soil, for example. In one example, the total weight of a block330 is between about 200 tons and about 300 tons (e.g., metric ton),such as approximately 288 tons. The amount of energy storage of the ESsystem 100B can in one implementation be approximately 500 kWh (kilowatthours). The amount of power generation provided by the ES system 100Bcan in one implementation be approximately 1.1 MW.

FIGS. 8A-8D show a block 330 with corrugated underside (e.g., corrugatedbottom surface) and a wheeled jack operable to move the block 330. Theblock 330 is moved from a deck 850 to the elevator 820 and then from theelevator 820 to a different deck 850. The elevator 820 can in oneimplementation be similar to the elevator 120 in FIGS. 1-2 for the ESsystem 100, 100A and the elevator 320 in FIGS. 3-6 for the ES system100B. The deck 850 can be the lower deck 112, 312 or upper deck 114,314. The jack 810, which can be integrated into the elevator 820, canslide under the block 330, lift the block 330 (as described below), andthen roll the block 330 back to the elevator 820, or vice versa. Forexample, the jack 810 can have one or more fingers sized to extend inthe one or more recesses 742 between protrusions 740 on the bottom side300 f of the block 330.

The elevator 820 includes a platform 800 and the jack 810 is movablerelative to the platform 800 (e.g., movably coupled or integrated withthe elevator 820). The jack 810 includes a housing 811 with multiplewheels 812, one or more (e.g., multiple) lift arms 814, and uppersurface 816. The lift arms 814 can optionally be rotatably attached tothe housing 811 (e.g., at the upper end of each arm 814). The lower endof each lift arm 814 is connected to one or more of the wheels 812. Thelift arms 814 can be rigidly affixed to a motor (e.g., electric motor)or actuator (not shown) that is operable to rotate the lift arms 814between a vertical orientation and a non-vertical orientation. Theoverall height of the jack 810 is relatively low when the lift arms 814are in the non-vertical orientation. When the motor/actuators areenergized and the lift arms 814 rotated to the vertical orientation, thelift arms 814 raise the housing 811 and the overall height of the jack810 is increased so that the upper surface 816 engages and lifts theblock 330, thereby allowing the jack 810 to move the block 330.

In the process of removing a block 330, the platform 800 can be alignedhorizontally with the deck 850 (see FIG. 8A). The jack 810 is rolledtoward the block 330 with the lift arms 814 is the non-verticalorientation. The overall height of the jack 810 in this configuration isadvantageously less than the height of a recess 742, 742 a (e.g., of thecorrugated bottom of the block 330). The jack 810 therefore slides underthe block 330 between two protrusions 740 (see FIG. 8B) and within oneor more recesses 742, 742 a. Once under the block 330, the lift arms 814are rotated to a vertical orientation which raises the jack 810 to anoverall height greater than the height of the protrusions 740 and/orrecesses 742, 742 a, thereby lifting the block 330 off the deck 850 oroff another block (see FIG. 8C). Once lifted, the jack 810 is rolledback onto the elevator platform 800 (see FIG. 8D) and the block 330relocated to a deck 850 or stack at a different height.

To unload a block 330 from the deck 850, the steps described immediatelyabove are executed in reverse.

FIGS. 9A-12B illustrate a fourth implementation of an energy storage(ES) system 100C. The ES system 100C includes a frame 910. In oneimplementation, the frame 910 can include a plurality of reinforcedsteel/concrete pillars with a lower deck 912, an upper deck 914, aplurality of elevator guides 920, at least one elevator 922 (e.g.,elevator grabber, elevator cage) operating within elevator shaft 924, amotor-generator 950 with pulleys 926, and a plurality of ballast weightsor blocks 930. The blocks 930 can be stacked and stored on the lowerdeck 912 and on the upper deck 914. The elevator 922 is operable to movethe blocks 930 between a stack on the lower deck 912 and a stack on theupper deck 914 via the elevator shaft 924. The blocks 930 can have anarc shape 9 (e.g., be pie-shaped). The frame 910, blocks 930, elevatorshaft 924 and elevator 922 form a module. In the illustratedimplementation, the ES system 100C has one module.

To store electricity or other form of energy, a block 930 is lifted bythe elevator 922 (e.g., elevator grabber) from the lower deck 912 to theupper deck 914. To release energy and generate electricity, a block 930is lowered from the upper deck 914 to the lower deck 912 (e.g., underforce of gravity) and the force used to rotate the motor-generator togenerate electricity (e.g., based on the kinetic energy of the block 930as it is lowered).

The blocks 930 are retrieved, for example, from a stack (e.g., on thelower deck 912 or upper deck 914) and returned to a stack (e.g., on theupper deck 914 or the lower deck 912) using a rotational motion (e.g.,rotating the elevator 922 to the left or right relative to the elevatorshaft 924 to retrieve or release blocks). If, for example, a block 930is removed from above the lower deck 912 (e.g., removed from above astack of blocks 930 on the lower deck 912), the elevator 922 (e.g.,elevator grabber) securely grabs the block 930 (e.g., via a lip 925 ofthe elevator 922 that engages a shoulder 932 of the block 930),(optionally lifts and) rotates (e.g., by 90 degrees) the block 930(e.g., in a first direction) from its position over the lower deck 912to an angular position corresponding to the elevator shaft 924, raisesthe block 930 to a point above the upper deck 914 (e.g., coinciding withthe top of a stack of blocks 930 on the upper deck 914), rotates theblock (e.g., in a second direction opposite the first direction) to aposition directly over the stack of blocks 930, and then releases theblock 930 so that is rests on the top of the stack of blocks 930 on theupper deck 914. Similar rotational motion is used by the elevator 922(e.g., elevator grabber) to pick up a block 930 from above the upperdeck 914 (e.g., from above a stack of blocks 930 on the upper deck 914)and place it over the lower deck 912 (e.g., place it at the top of astack of blocks 930 on the lower deck 912). The rotational motiondescribed herein refers to a rotation in a horizontal plane with respectto a vertical axis coinciding with a longitudinal axis running throughthe elevator guides 920 of the frame 910.

In some embodiments, the motor-generator (not shown) resides on or nearthe ground and connects to the elevator (e.g., elevator grabber) 922 viathe pulleys 926 mounted at the top of the tower guides 920.

FIG. 13 illustrates a fifth implementation of an energy storage (ES)system 100D. The ES system 100D is similar to the ES system 100Cillustrated in FIGS. 9A-12B and described above. Therefore, thestructure and description for the various features of the ES system 100Cin FIGS. 9A-12B, and the blocks 930 moved by the ES system 100C, areunderstood to also apply to the corresponding features of the ES system100D and blocks 1330 in FIG. 13, except as described below. The ESsystem 100D differs from the ES system 100C in that it includes fiveframes 1310, each having a pair of elevators 1322, instead of the twoframes 910, each having two elevators 922, in FIGS. 9A-12B. The ESsystem 100D can therefore store more energy than the ES system 100C, andcan generate more electricity than the ES system 100C. Each of the fiveframes 1310 of the ES system 100D can include a plurality of reinforcedsteel/concrete pillars with a plurality of lower decks 1312 and aplurality of upper decks 1314, a plurality of elevator guides 1320, aplurality of elevators (e.g., elevator grabbers) 1322, a plurality ofmotor-generators 1050, and a plurality of ballast weights or blocks1330. The ES system 100D can operate in the same manner as the system100C to move blocks between the lower decks 1312 and the upper decks1314 (e.g., by using rotational motion to remove a block 1330 from abovea deck or stack of blocks on a deck, rotate the block in one directionto an elevator shaft, move the block to a different elevation, rotatethe block in an opposite direction and place the block over a differentdeck or over a stack of blocks on said deck). Each frame 1310, blocks1330, elevator shaft and elevator 1322 form a module. In the illustratedimplementation, the ES system 100D has five modules.

FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic illustration of a motor-generator 1460 coupledto a plurality of energy storage (and delivery) (ES) systems including afirst ES system 1430 and second ES system 1440. The ES systems 1430,1440 are similar to the energy storage system 100A, 100B described aboveand blocks 1130 are similar to blocks 330. Therefore, the structure anddescription for the various features of the ES system 100A, 100B and theblocks 330 in FIGS. 2-6, as well as their operation, are understood toalso apply to the corresponding features of the ES system 1430, 1440 andblock 1130, except as described below. Though the illustrated embodimentshows the motor-generator 1460 as coupled to two energy storage systems1430, 1440, one of skill in the art will recognize that in otherimplementations the motor-generator 1460 can be coupled to only oneenergy storage system. In still another implementation, themotor-generator 1460 can be coupled to more than two energy storagesystems (e.g., to four energy storage systems, six energy storagesystems, eight energy storage systems).

The motor-generator 1460 can be operated to lift and/or lower blocks1130 on a plurality of ES systems 1430, 1440 simultaneously. That is,the motor-generator 1460 is operable to lift a block 1130 along anelevator shaft 1124 in a column 1122 of one ES system 1430 (e.g., to alocation above an upper deck 1114 of the frame 1110 of the ES system)while a block 1130 is lowered along an elevator shaft 1124 in a column1122 on a different ES system 1440 (e.g., to a location above a lowerdeck 1112 of the frame 1110 of the ES system), thereby causing blocks1130 in the ES systems 1430, 1440 to be lifted and lowered concurrently.

Each ES system 1430, 1440 includes a winch 1470A, 1470B coupled to themotor-generator 1460 via a drive shaft 1462 to lift and lower the blocks1130. Each ES system 1430,1440 further includes a cable 1450 that runsup the elevator shaft 1124, over a pulley 1126, and back down to anelevator (e.g., elevator grabber) 1120. The cable 1450 may furtherinclude a damper 1452 and linear actuator 1454 mounted between the winch1470A, 1470B and pulley 1126. The damper 1452 can optionally be ahydraulic damper. In another implementation, the damper 1452 can be apneumatic damper. In still another implementation, the damper 1452 canbe a resilient damper (e.g., include a compressible material, such asrubber). The damper 1452 can advantageously absorb jerky motion in thecable 1450 and inhibit (e.g., prevent) excessive forces from damagingthe cable 1450. The linear actuator 1454 can expand or contract a smalldistance (e.g., less than several meters, such as less than 3 meters,less than 2 meters) to make fine adjustments in the vertical position ofthe elevator (e.g., elevator grabber) 1120 when in motion to pick-up ordrop-off a block 1130.

When a block 1130 is being lifted, the associated winch (e.g., winch1470A and/or 1470B) draws power from the motor-generator 1460 via thedrive shaft 1462. When a block 1130 is being lowered, the winch (e.g.,winch 1470A and/or 1470B) inputs power into the motor-generator via thedrive shaft 1462. The motor-generator 1460 is operable to output powerto lift a block 1130 on one ES system (e.g., ES system 1430) while areceiving power when a block 1130 is lowered on a different ES system(e.g., ES system 1440), thereby causing the motor-generator 1460 tooutput power and receive power concurrently. Power received by themotor-generator 1460 can optionally be delivered to a power grid towhich the motor-generator 1460 is electrically connected.

FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic illustration of a winch 1470A. The winch 1470Ais substantially identical (e.g., identical) to the winch 1470B, so thefeatures illustrated in FIG. 15 for winch 1470A and described below areunderstood to apply to winch 1470B. The winch 1470A includes a pluralityof planetary gears 1471, a plurality of brakes 1475, and a spool 1490 toreel in or reel out the cable 1450. The plurality of planetary gears1471 includes a first set of planetary gears 1471′ with a first sun gear1474, a first pair of planet gears 1476, and a first ring gear 1478,where the planet gears 1476 are arranged between the first sun gear 1474and the first ring gear 1478. The plurality of planetary gears 1471 alsoincludes a second set of planetary gears 1471″ with a second sun gear1480, a second pair of planet gears 1482, and a second ring gear 1484,where the planet gears 1482 are arranged between the second sun gear1480 and the second ring gear 1484. The winch 1470A further includes abrake disc 1472 that is concentric with the drive shaft 1462.

The brake disc 1472 is affixed to the first pair of planet gears 1476 byone or more members 1473, so that the brake disc 1472 rotates (e.g.,about the first sun gear 1474) at the same speed as the first pair ofplanet gears 1476. In addition, the first ring gear 1478 is affixed byone or more members 1477 to the second pair of planet gears 1482, sothat the first ring gear 1478 rotates (e.g., about the second sun gear1480) at the same speed as the second pair of planet gears 1482.

First brake A (e.g., brake pad(s) that selectively engage the disc 1472)is operable to slow or stop the rotation of the brake disc 1472 as wellas the first pair of planet gears 1476. Second brake B (e.g., brakepad(s) that selectively engage the first ring gear 1478) is operable toslow or stop the rotation of the first ring gear 1478 as well as thesecond pair of planet gears 1482. Third brake C (e.g., brake pad(s) thatselectively engage the second ring gear 1484) is operable to slow orstop the rotation of the second ring gear 1484. In one implementation,one or more of the first brake A, second brake B and third brake C canbe hydraulically operated brakes. In another implementation, one or moreof the first brake A, second brake B and third brake C can bepneumatically operated brakes

FIG. 16 includes a table indicating the performance of a winch (e.g.winch 1470A, 1470B) based on activation of one or more of the firstbrake A, second brake B and/or third brake C. In the table, a “1”indicates that a brake force is actively braking while a “0” indicatesthat the brake is open and no braking force is applied. As indicated,the spool 1490 is stopped when brake C applies a brake force to thesecond ring gear 1484 while brakes A and B are open (e.g., no brakingforce is applied by brakes A and B). The spool 1490 operates in reversewhen brake A applies a brake force to the brake disc 1472 while brakes Band C remain open (e.g., no braking force is applied by brakes B and C).When the spool 1490 operates in reverse, the elevator (e.g., elevatorgrabber) 1120 (and block 1130 carried by it) is lowered. The spool 1490operates in the forward direct to lift the elevator (e.g., elevatorgrabber) 1120 (and block 1130 carried by it) when brake B applies abrake force to the first ring gear 1478 while brakes A and C remain open(e.g., no braking force is applied by brakes A and C). Advantageously,the plurality of planetary gears 1471 and brakes A, B, C allow the winch1470A (as well as the winch 1470B) to operate to raise or lower theelevator 1120 without requiring complex motor controls, therebyproviding a simplified and less costly control for raising and loweringthe blocks 1130. Though described in connection with the ES system 1430,1440 above, the motor-generator 1460, winch 1470A, 1470A and driveshafts 1462 in FIGS. 14-15, and operation mode in FIG. 16, can beimplemented in any of the energy storage and delivery systems 100-100Ddescribed above.

To convert the stored potential energy to electricity, the elevator 120,320, 820, 922, 1322, 1120 can move one or more of the blocks 130, 330,930, 1330, 1130 from a higher elevation to a lower elevation (e.g.,vertically lower at least partially under the force of gravity) to drivethe electric motor-generator 150, 350, 950, 1050, 1460 (via one or morecables or steel ribbons) to generate electricity, which can be deliveredto a power grid to which the motor-generator 150, 350, 950, 1050, 1460is electrically connected. Power in the form of electricity is generatedeach time a block 130, 330, 930, 1330, 1130 is lowered.

Advantageously, the energy storage and delivery system 100-100D, 1430,1440 can, for example, store electricity generated from solar power aspotential energy in the raised blocks 130, 330, 930, 1330, 1130 duringdaytime hours when solar power is available, and can convert thepotential energy in the blocks 130, 330, 930, 1330, 1130 intoelectricity during nighttime hours when solar energy is not available bylowering one or more blocks 130, 330, 930, 1330, 1130 and deliver theconverted electricity to the power grid.

Described herein are examples of an energy storage and delivery system(e.g., the energy storage and delivery system 100-100D, 1430, 1440)operable to convert electrical energy or electricity into potentialenergy for storage, and to convert potential energy into electricalenergy or electricity, for example, for delivery to an electrical grid.Advantageously, the energy storage system requires little to nomaintenance, and can operate decades (e.g., 30-50 years) withsubstantially no reduction in energy storage capacity.

In some implementations, the energy storage system described herein canstore approximately 10 megawatts-hour (MWh) or more of energy (e.g.,between 10 MWh and 100 MWh, such as 15 MWh, 20 MWh, 30 MWh, 50 MWh, 80MWh, 90 MWh) and deliver approximately 10 MWh or more of energy (e.g.,between 10 MWh and 100 MWh, such as 15 MWh, 20 MWh, 30 MWh, 50 MWh, 80MWh, 90 MWh) to the electrical grid. The energy storage system describedherein can deliver energy each hour (e.g., 1 MW up to 6 MW or more).However, in other implementations the energy storage and delivery systemdescribed herein can have other suitable energy storage and deliverycapacities (e.g., 1 MWh, 3 MWh, 5 MWh, etc.). In one implementation, theenergy storage and delivery system can optionally power approximately1000 homes or more for a day.

The energy storage and delivery system described herein canadvantageously be connected to a renewable energy (e.g., green energy)power generation system, such as, for example, a solar power energysystem, a wind energy power system (e.g., wind turbines), etc.Advantageously, during operation of the renewable energy powergeneration system (e.g., operation of the solar energy system duringdaylight hours, operation of the wind power system during windyconditions), the energy storage and delivery system captures theelectricity generated by the renewable energy power generation system.The energy storage and delivery system can later deliver the storedelectricity to the electrical grid when the renewable energy powergeneration system is not operable (e.g., at night time, during windlessconditions). Accordingly, the energy storage and delivery systemoperates like a battery for the renewable energy power generation systemand can deliver off-hours electricity from a renewable energy powergeneration system to the electrical grid.

In implementations described above, the energy storage and deliverysystem 100-100D, 1430, 1440 lifts blocks 130, 330, 930, 1330, 1130 tostore electrical energy as potential energy and lowers blocks 130, 330,930, 1330, 1130 to generate electricity. In one implementation, theelevator 120, 320, 820, 922, 1322, 1120 can be operated with excesspower from an electricity grid. The amount of energy recovered by theenergy storage system 100-100D, 1430, 1440 for every unit of energy usedto lift the blocks 130, 330, 930, 1330, 1130 can optionally be 80-90%.

Additional Embodiments

In embodiments of the present invention, an energy storage system, amethod of operating the same, and a block for use with the same, may bein accordance with any of the following clauses:

Clause 1. An energy storage and delivery system, comprising:

-   -   one or more modules, each module comprising        -   a plurality of blocks, and        -   a frame having a vertical height above a foundation, the            frame including            -   an elevator shaft,            -   an elevator movably disposed in the elevator shaft, the                elevator sized to receive and support one or more blocks                therein and operable to move one or more of the                plurality of blocks between a lower elevation and a                higher elevation, and            -   a winch assembly movably coupled to a cable that is                coupled to the elevator, the winch assembly comprising                one or more planetary gear assemblies, one or more                brakes and a spool coupled to the cable;    -   a motor-generator; and    -   a drive shaft having an end coupled to the motor-generator and        an opposite end coupled to the winch assembly,    -   wherein at least one of the one or more brakes of the winch        assembly is operable so that the spool rotates to reel-in the        cable to raise the elevator to move one or more of the plurality        of blocks from a lower elevation to a higher elevation to store        energy or so that the spool rotates to reel-out the cable to        lower the elevator to move one or more of the plurality of        blocks from a higher elevation to a lower elevation to generate        electricity.

Clause 2. The system of clause 1, wherein the winch assembly comprises abrake disc concentric with the drive shaft and wherein the one or moreplanetary gear assemblies includes a first planetary gear assembly and asecond planetary gear assembly, the first planetary gear assemblydisposed axially between the brake disc and the second planetary gearassembly, the second planetary gear assembly disposed axially betweenthe first planetary gear assembly and the spool, the first planetarygear assembly including a first sun gear, a first pair of planet gears,and a first ring gear, the second planetary gear assembly including asecond sun gear, a second pair of planet gears and a second ring gear,the drive shaft fixedly coupled to the first sun gear, the second sungear and the spool, the brake disc fixedly coupled to the first pair ofplanet gears, and the first ring gear fixedly coupled to the second pairof planet gears.

Clause 3. The system of clause 2, wherein the one or more brakesincludes a first brake operable to selectively engage the brake disc, asecond brake operable to selectively engage the first ring gear and athird brake operable to selectively engage the second ring gear.

Clause 4. The system of clause 3, wherein operating the first brake todisengage the brake disc, operating the second brake to disengage thefirst ring gear, and operating the third brake to engage the second ringgear stops rotation of the spool.

Clause 5. The system of any of clauses 3-4, wherein operating the firstbrake to engage the brake disc, operating the second brake to disengagethe first ring gear, and operating the third brake to disengage thesecond ring gear rotates the spool in a reverse direction to reel-outthe cable to lower the elevator.

Clause 6. The system of any of clauses 3-5, wherein operating the firstbrake to disengage the brake disc, operating the second brake to engagethe first ring gear, and operating the third brake to disengage thesecond ring gear rotates the spool in a forward direction to reel-in thecable to raise the elevator.

Clause 7. The system of any preceding clause, further comprising adamper coupled to the cable, the damper configured to absorb at least aportion of a force applied to the cable.

Clause 8. The system of any preceding clause, further comprising alinear actuator coupled to the cable, the linear actuator configured toexpand or contract to allow adjustment in a vertical position of theelevator to facilitate picking-up or dropping-off of the block.

Clause 9. The system of any preceding clause, wherein the one or moremodules are two modules, and wherein the drive shaft couples to thewinch of a first of the two modules and to the winch of the second ofthe two modules.

Clause 10. The system of clause 9, wherein the winch of the first moduleand the winch of the second module are operable to simultaneously lift ablock in the first module and lower a block in the second module.

Clause 11. The system of any preceding clause, wherein the frame has alower deck and an upper deck spaced vertically above the lower deck, andwherein the elevator shaft is disposed between a left column and a rightcolumn of the frame that extend between the lower deck and the upperdeck.

Clause 12. The system of clause 11, wherein the elevator is operable toraise one or more blocks from a location in the left column above thelower deck to a location above the upper deck over the left column andto move one or more blocks from a location in the right column above thelower deck to a location above the upper deck over the right column tothereby store an amount of electrical energy corresponding to apotential energy amount of said one or more raised blocks, and whereinthe elevator is operable to lower one or more blocks from a locationabove the upper deck over the left column to a location within the leftcolumn above the lower deck and to move one or more blocks from alocation above the upper deck over the right column to a location withinthe right column above the lower deck under a force of gravity tothereby generate an amount of electricity for each of the one or morelowered blocks via the electric motor-generator electrically coupled tothe elevator.

Clause 13. The system of clause 11, wherein the elevator is operable tomove the plurality of blocks between the location above the lower deckand the location above the upper deck so that the average distributionof load on the frame or the foundation of the module remainssubstantially constant.

Clause 14. The system of any preceding clause, wherein the frameincludes a plurality of columns of reinforced steel and concretepillars.

Clause 15. A method for storing and generating electricity, comprising:

-   -   operating an elevator along an elevator shaft to move a        plurality of blocks between a lower elevation and a higher        elevation, the elevator coupled to a cable that extends between        the elevator and a spool of a winch assembly, the winch assembly        comprising one or more planetary gear assemblies and one or more        brakes,    -   wherein operating the elevator includes:        -   operating a first brake of the winch assembly to disengage a            brake disc of the winch assembly, operating a second brake            of the winch assembly to disengage a first ring gear of a            first planetary gear assembly and operating a third brake of            the winch assembly to engage a second ring gear of a second            planetary gear assembly to stop rotation of the spool,        -   operating the first brake to engage the brake disc of the            winch assembly, operating the second brake to disengage the            first ring gear of the first planetary gear assembly and            operating the third brake to disengage the second ring gear            of the second planetary gear assembly to rotate the spool in            a reverse direction to reel-out the cable to lower the            elevator, and        -   operating the first brake to disengage the brake disc of the            winch assembly, operating the second brake to engage the            first ring gear of the first planetary gear assembly and            operating the third brake to disengage the second ring gear            of the second planetary gear assembly to rotate the spool in            a forward direction to reel-in the cable to raise the            elevator.

Clause 16. The method of clause 15, wherein moving the blocks betweenthe lower elevation and the higher elevation includes moving the blocksbetween a location above a lower deck in a left or a right column oneither side of the elevator shaft to location above an upper deckaligned with the left or right columns.

Clause 17. The method of clause 16, wherein moving the one or moreblocks between the location above the lower deck in the left or rightcolumns and the location above the upper deck in the left or rightcolumns includes positioning the blocks so that the average distributionof load on a foundation under the frame or on the frame remainssubstantially constant.

While certain embodiments of the inventions have been described, theseembodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are notintended to limit the scope of the disclosure. Indeed, the novel methodsand systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of otherforms. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in thesystems and methods described herein may be made without departing fromthe spirit of the disclosure. The accompanying claims and theirequivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as wouldfall within the scope and spirit of the disclosure. Accordingly, thescope of the present inventions is defined only by reference to theappended claims.

Features, materials, characteristics, or groups described in conjunctionwith a particular aspect, embodiment, or example are to be understood tobe applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described inthis section or elsewhere in this specification unless incompatibletherewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification(including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or allof the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined inany combination, except combinations where at least some of suchfeatures and/or steps are mutually exclusive. The protection is notrestricted to the details of any foregoing embodiments. The protectionextends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the featuresdisclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims,abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination,of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Furthermore, certain features that are described in this disclosure inthe context of separate implementations can also be implemented incombination in a single implementation. Conversely, various featuresthat are described in the context of a single implementation can also beimplemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitablesubcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above asacting in certain combinations, one or more features from a claimedcombination can, in some cases, be excised from the combination, and thecombination may be claimed as a subcombination or variation of asubcombination.

Moreover, while operations may be depicted in the drawings or describedin the specification in a particular order, such operations need not beperformed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or thatall operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. Otheroperations that are not depicted or described can be incorporated in theexample methods and processes. For example, one or more additionaloperations can be performed before, after, simultaneously, or betweenany of the described operations. Further, the operations may berearranged or reordered in other implementations. Those skilled in theart will appreciate that in some embodiments, the actual steps taken inthe processes illustrated and/or disclosed may differ from those shownin the figures. Depending on the embodiment, certain of the stepsdescribed above may be removed, others may be added. Furthermore, thefeatures and attributes of the specific embodiments disclosed above maybe combined in different ways to form additional embodiments, all ofwhich fall within the scope of the present disclosure. Also, theseparation of various system components in the implementations describedabove should not be understood as requiring such separation in allimplementations, and it should be understood that the describedcomponents and systems can generally be integrated together in a singleproduct or packaged into multiple products.

For purposes of this disclosure, certain aspects, advantages, and novelfeatures are described herein. Not necessarily all such advantages maybe achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment. Thus, forexample, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure maybe embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves one advantage or agroup of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving otheradvantages as may be taught or suggested herein.

Conditional language, such as “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unlessspecifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within thecontext as used, is generally intended to convey that certainembodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certainfeatures, elements, and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is notgenerally intended to imply that features, elements, and/or steps are inany way required for one or more embodiments or that one or moreembodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without userinput or prompting, whether these features, elements, and/or steps areincluded or are to be performed in any particular embodiment.

Conjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, and Z,”unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understood with thecontext as used in general to convey that an item, term, etc. may beeither X, Y, or Z. Thus, such conjunctive language is not generallyintended to imply that certain embodiments require the presence of atleast one of X, at least one of Y, and at least one of Z.

Language of degree used herein, such as the terms “approximately,”“about,” “generally,” and “substantially” as used herein represent avalue, amount, or characteristic close to the stated value, amount, orcharacteristic that still performs a desired function or achieves adesired result. For example, the terms “approximately”, “about”,“generally,” and “substantially” may refer to an amount that is withinless than 10% of, within less than 5% of, within less than 1% of, withinless than 0.1% of, and within less than 0.01% of the stated amount. Asanother example, in certain embodiments, the terms “generally parallel”and “substantially parallel” refer to a value, amount, or characteristicthat departs from exactly parallel by less than or equal to 15 degrees,10 degrees, 5 degrees, 3 degrees, 1 degree, or 0.1 degree.

The scope of the present disclosure is not intended to be limited by thespecific disclosures of preferred embodiments in this section orelsewhere in this specification, and may be defined by claims aspresented in this section or elsewhere in this specification or aspresented in the future. The language of the claims is to be interpretedbroadly based on the language employed in the claims and not limited tothe examples described in the present specification or during theprosecution of the application, which examples are to be construed asnon-exclusive.

What is claimed is:
 1. An energy storage and delivery system,comprising: one or more modules, each module comprising a plurality ofblocks, a frame having a vertical height, the frame including anelevator shaft, an elevator movably disposed in the elevator shaft, theelevator sized to receive and support one or more blocks therein andoperable to move one or more of the plurality of blocks between a lowerelevation and a higher elevation, and a winch assembly movably coupledto a cable that is coupled to the elevator, the winch assemblycomprising one or more planetary gear assemblies, one or more brakes anda spool coupled to the cable; a motor-generator; and a drive shafthaving an end coupled to the motor-generator and an opposite end coupledto the winch assembly, wherein at least one of the one or more brakes ofthe winch assembly is operable so that the spool rotates to reel-in thecable to raise the elevator to move one or more of the plurality ofblocks from a lower elevation to a higher elevation to store energy orso that the spool rotates to reel-out the cable to lower the elevator tomove one or more of the plurality of blocks from a higher elevation to alower elevation to generate electricity.
 2. The system of claim 1,wherein the winch assembly comprises a brake disc concentric with thedrive shaft and wherein the one or more planetary gear assembliesincludes a first planetary gear assembly and a second planetary gearassembly, the first planetary gear assembly disposed axially between thebrake disc and the second planetary gear assembly, the second planetarygear assembly disposed axially between the first planetary gear assemblyand the spool, the first planetary gear assembly including a first sungear, a first pair of planet gears, and a first ring gear, the secondplanetary gear assembly including a second sun gear, a second pair ofplanet gears and a second ring gear, the drive shaft fixedly coupled tothe first sun gear, the second sun gear and the spool, the brake discfixedly coupled to the first pair of planet gears, and the first ringgear fixedly coupled to the second pair of planet gears.
 3. The systemof claim 2, wherein the one or more brakes includes a first brakeoperable to selectively engage the brake disc, a second brake operableto selectively engage the first ring gear and a third brake operable toselectively engage the second ring gear.
 4. The system of claim 3,wherein operating the first brake to disengage the brake disc, operatingthe second brake to disengage the first ring gear, and operating thethird brake to engage the second ring gear stops rotation of the spool.5. The system of claim 3, wherein operating the first brake to engagethe brake disc, operating the second brake to disengage the first ringgear, and operating the third brake to disengage the second ring gearrotates the spool in a reverse direction to reel-out the cable to lowerthe elevator.
 6. The system of claim 3, wherein operating the firstbrake to disengage the brake disc, operating the second brake to engagethe first ring gear, and operating the third brake to disengage thesecond ring gear rotates the spool in a forward direction to reel-in thecable to raise the elevator.
 7. The system of claim 1, furthercomprising a damper coupled to the cable, the damper configured toabsorb at least a portion of a force applied to the cable.
 8. The systemof claim 1, further comprising a linear actuator coupled to the cable,the linear actuator configured to expand or contract to allow adjustmentin a vertical position of the elevator to facilitate picking-up ordropping-off of the block.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the one ormore modules are two modules, and wherein the drive shaft couples to thewinch of a first of the two modules and to the winch of a second of thetwo modules.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the winch of the firstmodule and the winch of the second module are operable to simultaneouslylift a block in the first module and lower a block in the second module.11. The system of claim 1, wherein the frame has a lower deck and anupper deck spaced vertically above the lower deck, and wherein theelevator shaft is disposed between a left column and a right column ofthe frame that extend between the lower deck and the upper deck.
 12. Thesystem of claim 11, wherein the elevator is operable to raise one ormore blocks from a location in the left column above the lower deck to alocation above the upper deck over the left column and to move one ormore blocks from a location in the right column above the lower deck toa location above the upper deck over the right column to thereby storean amount of electrical energy corresponding to a potential energyamount of said one or more raised blocks, and wherein the elevator isoperable to lower one or more blocks from a location above the upperdeck over the left column to a location within the left column above thelower deck and to move one or more blocks from a location above theupper deck over the right column to a location within the right columnabove the lower deck under a force of gravity to thereby generate anamount of electricity for each of the one or more lowered blocks via theelectric motor-generator electrically coupled to the elevator.
 13. Thesystem of claim 11, wherein the elevator is operable to move theplurality of blocks between the location in the left column or in theright column above the lower deck and the location above the upper deckover the left column or over the right column so that an averagedistribution of load on the frame of the module remains substantiallyconstant.
 14. The system of claim 1, wherein the frame includes aplurality of columns of reinforced steel and concrete pillars.
 15. Amethod for storing and generating electricity, comprising: operating anelevator along an elevator shaft to move a plurality of blocks between alower elevation and a higher elevation, the elevator coupled to a cablethat extends between the elevator and a spool of a winch assembly, thewinch assembly comprising one or more planetary gear assemblies and oneor more brakes, wherein operating the elevator includes: operating afirst brake of the winch assembly to disengage a brake disc of the winchassembly, operating a second brake of the winch assembly to disengage afirst ring gear of a first planetary gear assembly and operating a thirdbrake of the winch assembly to engage a second ring gear of a secondplanetary gear assembly to stop rotation of the spool, operating thefirst brake to engage the brake disc of the winch assembly, operatingthe second brake to disengage the first ring gear of the first planetarygear assembly and operating the third brake to disengage the second ringgear of the second planetary gear assembly to rotate the spool in areverse direction to reel-out the cable to lower the elevator, andoperating the first brake to disengage the brake disc of the winchassembly, operating the second brake to engage the first ring gear ofthe first planetary gear assembly and operating the third brake todisengage the second ring gear of the second planetary gear assembly torotate the spool in a forward direction to reel-in the cable to raisethe elevator.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein moving the blocksbetween the lower elevation and the higher elevation includes moving theblocks between a location above a lower deck in a left or a right columnof a frame on either side of the elevator shaft to location above anupper deck of the frame aligned with the left or right columns.
 17. Themethod of claim 16, wherein moving the one or more blocks between thelocation above the lower deck in the left or right columns and thelocation above the upper deck aligned with the left or right columnsincludes positioning the blocks so that an average distribution of loadon the frame remains substantially constant.